Infused with Toxins

We’ve never really worried about weeds in the yard. I’d say our yard is about 60% grass (3-4 varieties) 20% clover and 20% of what pickier people might call weeds.

But, as Lauren says, “What? They’re green.”

This has been my philosophy too, so apart from an occasional foray against the dandy-lions, it’s been mostly live and let live here.

Until this spring.

It started innocently enough. Just another weed to green up the place. But this weed was different. It goes by many names: Ground Ivy, Creeping Charlie, Gil-on-the-ground, Alehof, Creeping Jenny among others.

It stared off as two small patches, but they have been growing and attempting to join together. I knew that if they joined forces there would be no stopping them, so something had to be done. I took a specimen to Merl’s Garden Center and they gave me a bottle. They asked if I wanted the specimen back, but I said I had more at home.

The patches are about 20ft x 15ft and 30ft x 30ft, and today I covered them in toxins. It’s better to treat it in the spring or fall when it’s still growing, but this stuff has never stopped growing. Heck, you can sit outside and watch it grow. The label says that you can see results within 24 hours, and that you should retreat (I believe they mean “reapply” rather than “fall back”) in 10-14 days. So consider this a “before” post.

Eco-Lauren here, and I just want to say: Creeping Charlie is a beautiful plant. If it were just me, I think an entire lawn of it would be great -- it’s bright green, it’s springy to walk on, and it definitely doesn’t need watering.

However, the neighbors don’t like it, and have kindly mentioned how it is creeping into their yards, so I’m grateful to Lloyd for taking care of it.